Osborne unveils radical changes to UK pensions
19th Mar 2014 15:55
Shares of Hargreaves Lansdown are at the top of the leaderboard, after the Chancellor today announced that savers will soon benefit from a new breed of tax-free ISAs. From July 1st 2014 investors will be able to put up to £15,000 pounds worth of stocks or bonds into what have been denominated as Ne
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Resolution falls on broker downgrade
19th Mar 2014 15:45
Legal and General fell sharply after Osborne announced in today's Budget that there will be a "radical change" to the pension system, as a result of which half a million people will no longer have to buy an annuity, Elissa Bayer, Senior Investment Director at Investec Wealth & Investment explained.
Read moreSector movers: Housing stocks rise, insurers fall after Budget
19th Mar 2014 14:03
Household goods and home construction stocks were making gains on Wednesday in the aftermath of George Osborne's 2014 Budget, in which he unveiled a number of stimulus measures to boost activity in the housing market. However, the life insurance sector was trading in the red as investors reacted ne
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Bank of England, Protectionism, Listings
19th Mar 2014 07:08
The central bank must focus on both financial stability and inflation. To concentrate just on the latter could turn into a dangerous distraction. In particular, officials must watch against excessive risk-taking amidst an environment of predictably low interest rates, as occurred before the last fin
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Mar 2014 09:07
Barclays: Nomura reduces target price from 305p to 285p staying with its buy recommendation. Investec lowers target price from 305p to 295p and keeps its buy recommendation. Ferrexpo: Westhouse Securities increases target price from 190p to 220p and reiterates a buy recommendation. F&C Asset Manag
Read moreSector movers: Strong results from Prudential boost life insurers
12th Mar 2014 14:40
Strong results from Prudential gave the life insurance sector a lift on Wednesday after the company impressed with a decent increase in the dividend as profits came in at the top end of analysts' estimates. Even though Prudential was the only life insurance stock to register gains in London, its w
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva rises after 2013 results impress
6th Mar 2014 14:49
Shares in insurer Aviva soared after investors celebrated a better-than-expected set of 2013 results as its turnaround under Chief Executive Mark Wilson saw encouraging progress. Operating profits rose 6% year-on-year to £2,049m, some 3% ahead of the consensus estimate of £1,988m. Panmure Gordon w
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pare gains ahead of ECB as BoE holds fire
6th Mar 2014 11:38
- BoE leaves rates on hold - ECB speculation ramps up ahead of decision - Crimea votes to join Russia, referendum set for 10 days - Aviva, Aggreko and Schroders jump after results techMARK 2,894.33 -0.17% FTSE 100 6,784.24 +0.13% FTSE 250 16,663.49 +0.30% UK stocks had trimmed earlier gains by Thu
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge lower as investors await data
5th Mar 2014 08:28
- Stocks pull back after strong rise - Tensions ease between Russia and Ukraine - Investors await host of economic data techMARK 2,915.70 -0.19% FTSE 100 6,810.51 -0.19% FTSE 250 16,667.83 -0.19% UK markets opened slightly lower on Wednesday morning as investors watched geopolitical developments
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set for decline despite record US finish
5th Mar 2014 07:18
- Strong finish in US with S&P at record high - FTSE to open lower - Focus on US ADP jobs survey UK stocks are set to open lower today, despite another record performance by the S&P 500 in the US as well as strong gains in Japan overnight. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 19 points bel
Read moreLegal & General lifts full-year dividend by 22 per cent
5th Mar 2014 07:11
- Dividend raised 22 per cent - Pre-tax profits and earnings increase - LGIM and Cofunds drive results - Growth expected in 2014 Legal & General (L&G) raised its full-year dividend by 22 per cent to 9.30p after delivering record 2013 results. Profit before tax grew 10% to £1.13bn and operating pr
Read moreLondon open: Stocks drop sharply as Ukraine tensions rise
3rd Mar 2014 08:14
- Ukrainian concerns escalate - US condemns Russian military move - Financials fall sharply - Precious metal miners track gold and silver prices higher techMARK 2,867.09 -1.30% FTSE 100 6,744.93 -0.95% FTSE 250 16,488.43 -1.42% UK stocks were sold off sharply on Monday morning on the back of the
Read moreLondon pre-open: Higher start predicted for FTSE
21st Feb 2014 07:33
- Positive start expected on FTSE - One per cent decline expected in UK retail sales - RBS expected to announce major job cuts The FTSE is set to open in positive territory this morning, driven by a rally on Wall Street and gains over in Asia overnight. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will ope
Read moreLegal & General to acquire Atlanta-based investment advisor
21st Feb 2014 07:02
FTSE 100-listed Legal & General is set to acquire Global Index Advisors (GIA), an Atlanta-based investment advisor focused on target date funds. The acquisition, due to be completed mid-2014, is to be made for a maximum consideration of $50.4m. GIA was formed in 1994 to create and market custome
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks driven higher by inflation data
18th Feb 2014 15:08
Banks charged higher on the news that UK inflation fell below the government's target of 2.0 per cent in January for the first time since 2009. Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays registered the strongest gains within their sector. BT shares were given a lift after the UK's Court of Appeal ruled t
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